The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four engine heavy bomber that first flew in 1935 and was used extensively by the United States Army Air Forces in the daylight bombing campaign over Europe during the Second World War. Named for its heavy defensive armament of machine guns, it became one of the most produced American bombers of the war and a lasting symbol of the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.
Facts
SignificanceDropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II and is the third most produced bomber in history. 1 Manufacturer or Builder FAQs
Who gave the B-17 the name Flying Fortress?
A Seattle Times reporter coined it in a picture caption the day before the prototype first flew.
The name came from a newspaper reporter, not from Boeing. Richard Williams of The Seattle Times used the phrase in a picture caption the day before the prototype Model 299 first flew, describing it as a "15-ton flying fortress" because of the large number of machine guns sticking out from the aircraft.
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Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
WikipediaLead section, second paragraph (USAAC competition)
In a USAAC competition, Boeing's prototype Model 299/XB-17 outperformed two other entries but crashed, losing the initial 200-bomber contract to the Douglas B-18 Bolo.
Development section, first flight paragraph
The first flight of the Model 299 was on 28 July 1935 with Boeing chief test pilot Leslie Tower at the controls.
Lead section, second sentence
A fast and high-flying bomber used primarily in the European Theater of Operations, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II. It is the third-most produced bomber in history, behind the American four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the German multirole, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88.
In Group: Bombers, Lead sentence
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft that was developed in the mid-1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).
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